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Gerrard suggests Danny Ings is going nowhere despite Leeds United’s interest

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Leeds United have taken a serious approach in the summer transfer market following their dramatic relegation battle in the 2021/22 season. The Whites are conducting serious business in the market to avoid another relegation-battling campaign. Manager Jesse Marsch has done a decent job enough to earn himself a signing or two for next season. As a result, the American wants a new striker to lead the charge for the team. SkySports reports that Aston Villa’s Danny Ings was on Leeds’ radar, only for Steven Gerrard to stand in between.

Ings has evidently failed to live up to the expectations of Aston Villa after signing from Southampton for £26 million. The 29-year-old smashed 22 league goals in the 2019/20 season, followed by 12 in the next season. This prompted Villa to snap up the England international last summer. However, Ings managed only 7 goals in 30 Premier League appearances for the Midlanders. Rumors of an exit picked up pace as Villa are planning to raise funds for new signings by selling the deadwood. But SkySports now claim that Steven Gerrard wants to keep Ings for next season, dealing a blow to Leeds.

Gerrard says Ings ‘integral’ part of his team

Ings’ exit seemed more inevitable after Manchester United joined Leeds in the race to sign the striker. United are looking to replace Edinson Cavani and have monitored Ings for a long time now. Furthermore, reports suggested that the player himself would find it difficult to turn down a potential move to United. However, recent news from SkySports’ Simon Thomas reveals that Steven Gerrard is in no favor of parting ways with Ings.

Thomson said,

“The breaking news concerns the Aston Villa striker Danny Ings. The news is that Aston Villa have no intention of selling Danny Ings, you might have seen those reports linking him with a possible move to Manchester United or Leeds United, and it had been suggested that Aston Villa may be open to offers for the striker, he only joined from Southampton in August of last year for a £25million deal, signing on a three-year deal. Sky Sports News has been told in the last few minutes that Steven Gerrard sees him as an integral part of the squad.”

Both Leeds and Manchester United will now have to turn their attention to another striker after missing out on Ings. Moreover, Leeds will have to fork out more than £25 million that Villa paid for Ings back last summer if they still wish to pursue the striker. Ings’ lucrative wages would further demand a greater chunk of Leeds’ budget which could hamper their plans for other signings.

Leeds have therefore short-listed Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah for a transfer. Given The Whites’ determination to sign a striker, they are ready to bring back Nketiah. The 23-year-old spent the first part of the 2019/20 season on loan at Leeds, scoring 5 goals in 19 games. Nonetheless, Leeds are taking huge strides in the market after securing deals for RB Salzburg duo Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen.

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